18 Natural Remedies to Get Rid of a Headache

Headaches are a common condition that many people deal with on a daily basis.

Ranging from uncomfortable to downright unbearable, they can disrupt your day-to-day life.

Several types of headaches exist, with tension headaches being the most common. Cluster headaches are painful and happen in groups or “clusters,” while migraines are a moderate-to-severe type of headache.

Although many medications are targeted at relieving headache symptoms, a number of effective, natural treatments also exist.

Here are 18 effective home remedies to naturally get rid of headaches.

For example, one study compared headache frequency and severity in those who got less than six hours of sleep per night and those who slept longer. It found that those who got less sleep had more frequent and severe headaches ().

However, getting too much sleep has also been shown to trigger headaches, making getting the right amount of rest important for those looking for natural headache prevention ().

For maximum benefits, aim for the “sweet spot” of seven to nine hours of sleep per night ().

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a substance produced naturally by the body that helps turn food into energy and functions as a powerful antioxidant ().

Studies have shown that taking CoQ10 supplements may be an effective and natural way to treat headaches.

For example, one study in 80 people demonstrated that taking 100 mg of CoQ10 supplements per day reduced migraine frequency, severity and length ().

Another study including 42 people who experienced frequent migraines found that three 100-mg doses of CoQ10 throughout the day helped decrease migraine frequency and migraine-related symptoms like nausea ().

Practicing yoga is an excellent way to relieve stress, increase flexibility, decrease pain and improve your overall quality of life ().

Taking up yoga may even help reduce the intensity and frequency of your headaches.

One study investigated the effects of yoga therapy on 60 people with chronic migraines. Headache frequency and intensity were reduced more in those receiving both yoga therapy and conventional care, compared to those receiving conventional care alone ().

Another study found that people who practiced yoga for three months had a significant reduction in headache frequency, severity and associated symptoms, compared to those who did not practice yoga ().

Certain herbs including feverfew and butterbur may reduce headache symptoms.

Feverfew is a flowering plant that has anti-inflammatory properties.

Some studies suggest that taking feverfew supplements in doses of 50–150 mg per day may reduce headache frequency. However, other studies have failed to find a benefit ().

Butterbur root comes from a perennial shrub native to Germany and, like feverfew, has anti-inflammatory effects.

Several studies have shown that taking butterbur extract in doses of 50–150 mg reduces headache symptoms in both adults and children ().

Feverfew is generally considered safe if taken in recommended amounts. However, butterbur should be treated with caution, as unpurified forms can cause liver damage, and the effects of its long-term use are unknown (, ).